,theobamaadministration. alittle more fuel. and we are talking about two men now. it comes down to these two guys and a lot of jobs on the line. possible hiring freezes, furloughs if we go over the cliff. now, working for the cuts they will make if we do actually go over the cliff. a diner, middle-class taxpayers and the vice president, telling republicans a deal to extend tax cuts for all but the wealthy is easy. >> the president would probably have me sprint up to the hill to bring the bill down for him to sign. it can be done like that. >> reporter: not really. even though the two sides are talking, they aren't making much progress. remember that phone call between the president and the speaker a couple days ago? >> the phone call was pleasant. but it was just more of the same. >> reporter: and that's the problem. it is now down to these two men, deal or no deal. the republican speaker and the president. with an election win at his back, the white house says the president won't budge on two points. higher tax rates for the rich. the actual rate might be negotiable. and any de

oftheobamaadministration. >>our concerns are that an increasingly desperate assad regime might turn to chemical weapons or might lose control of them to one of the many groups that are now operating within syria. >> syrian ground forces and rebels have been battling in and around syrian capital of damascus. it is now estimated that more than 40,000 people have been killed in violence in march 2011. >> just an atrocity there. >>> now to the pink slips at citigroup. the company is slashing 11,000 jobs worldwide. about 4% of its work force. more than half of those cuts will come from consumer banking. and they are aimed at saving $900 billion next year alone. investors were apparently pleased. because citi stocks shot up more than 6%. >>> and the world's biggest coffee chain is about to get even bigger. starbuck's is planning to add 1,500 cafes across the country over the next five years and another 1,500 in canada and latin america. the company has big expansion plans in china. there are currently more than 18,000 starbuck's around the globe. they're now charging $7 for the snazzy cup